Rohit Shishodia

Taking a serious note of media report about contaminated water near Delhi’s four landfill sites, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) sought a detailed report from the Secretary, Union Jal Shakti Ministry, Chief Secretary, Delhi Government and Chairman, Central Pollution Control Board.

The media report said that groundwater is getting contaminated dangerously near the landfill sites Bhalswa, Ghazipur and Okhla and the engineered sanitary landfill at Bawana in Delhi.

The NHRC also sought what steps are being taken or proposed to be taken to deal with the problem.

“According to the media report, carried on May 9, 2022, the Delhi Pollution Control Committee had collected samples from several sites near each landfill site in 2021, which were found to be highly contaminated far beyond the desirable limit,” the NHRC said in a statement.

The NRHC said that the experts have reportedly opined that the consumption of water with a high TDS level for longer periods could be harmful for human health.

Reportedly, the primary source of contamination in the groundwater is un-segregated waste being dumped at the landfill sites where the waste is reportedly leaching into the soil.